Natsuki busied himself in the kitchen.
Batsu'unsai sat at the courtyard's edge, sipping tea. Though still pale, she looked markedly improved.
"Natsuki, what are you making? That smell is... potent." Batsu'unsai's nose wrinkled at the pungent, fishy odor wafting through the air.
"Preparing ingredients for a special dish!" Natsuki's voice echoed from the kitchen.
"Cooking?" Batsu'unsai frowned, unable to reconcile the stench with edible food.
The Nine-Turn Large Intestine required meticulous preparation. First, Natsuki thoroughly cleansed the intestines to remove excess water and oil—a time-consuming process. Next came boiling, stir-frying, and finally, slow simmering.
"It's done! I actually succeeded!" Natsuki murmured, though he sounded unconvinced.
He presented Batsu'unsai with a plate of glistening, rosy-red intestines.
Batsu'unsai eyed the dish with visible apprehension.
It wasn't that she distrusted Natsuki's cooking—she typically prepared her own meals. His past efforts had been edible, if unremarkable.
But after glimpsing his "ingredients" earlier, doubts lingered.
"Of course you can eat it. I prepared it properly—no need to worry." Natsuki handed her chopsticks, urging her to try.
He discreetly checked Batsu'unsai's status panel:
[Katori Batsu'unsai]
[Talent: S+]
[Reiatsu: Lv.46 (97)]
[Reputation Level: Close]
[Status: Severely Damaged Reiryoku Core (Can this truly be eaten?)]
Batsu'unsai's original Reiatsu had been Lv.97, but her damaged core caused continuous decline. During illness, it plummeted further. Recently recovered, her current level nearly matched Natsuki's.
A sudden rustling came from the courtyard wall.
"What an incredible smell!"
Natsuki recognized the voice. Turning, he spotted a figure crouched atop the wall.
"Azashiro Kana? What are you doing here?"
The intruder was none other than Azashiro Kana, one of Natsuki's students.
"I was heading to the market for food when I smelled something amazing..." Kana stared transfixed at the plate, saliva nearly dripping.
"Come join us if you're hungry. There's plenty," Natsuki offered.
"Really? Wait—Katori-sensei?!" Kana finally noticed who held the plate.
"You're currently trespassing in my home," Natsuki said, amused by her shameless gluttony.
"This is sensei's house? Then I'll gladly intrude!"
With practiced ease, Kana flipped backward off the wall, landing gracefully in the courtyard. The word "manners" clearly held no meaning for her.
Seizing chopsticks, Kana eagerly grabbed a piece of intestine and popped it into her mouth.
"Mmm—divine!" Her eyes sparkled with genuine delight.
Batsu'unsai studied the fluffy-haired girl's reaction skeptically before tentatively trying a piece herself.
"Hmm?" Her eyebrows shot up in shock.
The texture was perfectly tender—a harmonious balance of sweet, sour, savory, and spicy flavors. Rich yet not greasy, it was undeniably exquisite.
Then her expression darkened as she glared at Natsuki.
The meals he'd cooked before paled in comparison. Had he been holding back?
"Your skills have improved dramatically during my recovery," Batsu'unsai remarked pointedly.
"I've had a culinary epiphany recently," Natsuki lied smoothly.
Epiphanies were plausible—Batsu'unsai herself had experienced similar breakthroughs in swordsmanship.
Meanwhile, Kana continued devouring the dish with single-minded focus.
"Ah! I ate it all!" She stared guiltily at the empty plate, chopsticks hovering uselessly.
"No matter. There's more in the kitchen. Stay for noodles too." Natsuki collected the plate and retreated inside.
Kana trailed after him like a hungry shadow.
"So much left!" Her eyes gleamed at the two remaining bowls of intestines on the counter.
"This one tastes different..." She sampled a piece, noting the variation from the first batch.
As Natsuki prepared noodles, he turned to warn her—only to find Kana already eating.
He hesitated. This batch intentionally retained some "original flavor" to test the Cooking Sage trait's limits. He hadn't dared taste it himself.
"It has a... unique depth," Kana mused, swaying slightly as she savored it. "A pleasant bitterness that enhances the other flavors—so fragrant!"
The trait had surpassed expectations, transforming even questionable ingredients into gourmet fare.
"Enjoy that bowl," Natsuki said, deciding against sampling his experiment.
Kana demolished the intestines with startling speed. "Delicious!"
She eyed the final bowl longingly but restrained herself—it belonged to Katori-sensei and the woman outside.
"Noodles are ready," Natsuki announced.
Batsu'unsai soon joined them in the kitchen.
The trio ate together at the table. Though Natsuki prepared simple noodle soup, both women found it inexplicably irresistible.
Batsu'unsai grew increasingly convinced of his "epiphany"—even these humble noodles tasted extraordinary.
Kana finished first, draining every drop of broth.
"Done! Katori-sensei, you're a genius!" She patted her stomach contentedly—these were the best noodles she'd ever eaten.
Natsuki smiled benevolently.
"Azashiro-san, would you like to eat my cooking regularly?"
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Early chapters: patreon.com/Reborn_noob